So I took a new job last month, mostly because I felt like I had stagnated in my previous role, both financially and growth-wise. My goal from the start was actually to get an offer letter and take it back to my employer to see if they would bump me up in pay to match it, or at least come close to it. I wasn't unhappy at my job, I just wanted something more after almost 10 years of service with little to no career advancement and the cost of living increases that don't even keep up with inflation.
Well, I did not have to search for long. I was headhunted for a role that is technically a promotion from my old job, and it came with a substantial salary increase. I took that offer back to my former employer and they offered me a very low raise as a counter. Not even coming close to the offer from the other place.
So I decided to take a chance on it and left for my current role. So far, I am not enjoying it. I anticipated that there would be some growing pains getting used to the new environment, new co-workers, new workflow and so on, but I've encountered a bunch of red flags within the first three weeks of working here and had I known about them I would have not accepted the position to begin with.
Mostly, I am just not feeling fulfilled here. I don't have a clear understanding of what my job responsibilities are, and they stuff they are having me do are not things that I envisioned myself performing in this role. There is no clear onboarding procedure, and every one of my peers seems to be chronically overworked.
I think the thing that is stressing me out the most, however, is that my old manager (whom I am friends with outside of work) said that I could have my old job back, but that he couldn't keep the seat warm for me forever. That window, as he told me last weekend when I spoke with him, is rapidly closing. If I wanted to go back, I would have to decide very soon. Part of me wants to tough it out for a while and see if the anxiety and apprehensiveness I'm feeling in the new job is just something that will pass in time, but another part of me wants to cut and run while I still have a chance to go back to some feeling of normalcy.
Does anybody have any advice? Is this normal? I did not feel this way when starting my last job, but I did have other short lived jobs where I felt almost exactly the same. Is it a matter of me not giving it enough time or should I listen to my instincts telling me something isn't right?
edit: Thanks y'all. There's some good wisdom out there. I appreciate everyone who took the time to write out a well thought out reply or shared their own experiences. I think for now I am going to tough it out, get the help of a therapist to work through some of my anxiety problems, and maybe in 6 months if things haven't started improving, I will start searching for a new job at a different company, not my previous employer.
This may or may not be the right role for you but should it not be that does not mean going back to your old job is the right way out. You got this role quickly on searching - it sounds like you do not know your own value and worth?
You wanted growth and change, but that is always anxiety inducing and will make you question your choice and decision. You will learn how your new role works and you will develop new skills to make it work. I'd stick it through for a good period and see how you feel.
But if it ends up being thay you really don't like this job, it doesn't then mean going back is or was the right decision. Nothing from your old job will be fixed or improved and you will feel the same again in a year. It feels like the safe option because it is familiar but rhwy didn't value you enough to give you a salary your deserve. Your old manager obviously values you enough to want you back but mot enough to tell you that for your career to progress you do need to move forward.
You should look to move forward - if this new job isn't a good fit in 6 months, work out what you really do want and look again. Don't run back to familiar - you left for a reason but just becuase you haven't found what you wanted yet downs mean give up.